Performance assessment regarding UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals 4 & 5 in Pakistan: Targets, Current Positions & Challenges

Abstract

This paper contributes to the discussion on Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 5 by exploring the missing targets of the Millennium Development Goals and the challenges faced while achieving the target in Pakistan. The specific areas have been studied to highlight the status of goals 4 and 5 in the present scenario, which includes education and gender equality in terms of women's empowerment in the economy and politics. The situation in rural and urban areas varies significantly for both the elements, including education and gender equality, as most deprived areas lack school infrastructure, absenteeism of teachers at schools, and many others. However, gender discrimination also persists at all levels due to the patriarchal settings of society. It will take more effort to meet the targets in all such situations. Similarly, this study has produced the status of goals of South Asian regional countries to signify the variations in levels of education and gender equality in comparison with Pakistan. It is projected that developing countries and less per capita income-producing states are a long way to go while triumphing the targets of SDGs. This paper explored that the development of education and gender equality needs significant public spending because these sectors are critical to progress; due to this reason, it requires immediate reforms and policymaking which may increase the country’s capacity to overcome the degraded situation.